ALAN KEGAN ESCAPES FROM BLACKBURN HOSTEL AND LIVES ROUGH IN WALES

In January 2010, Alan Keegan, a man with a troubling criminal history, made headlines after he went missing from a probation hostel in Blackburn, where he was serving a sentence related to his previous convictions. Keegan, who was under supervision following his release, left the Blackburn bail hostel amid reports that he was pressured by other individuals involved in criminal activities. His disappearance lasted approximately nine days, during which he traveled to Wales and lived without shelter, avoiding police detection before eventually surrendering himself.

Preston Crown Court was informed that Keegan’s disappearance was not an isolated incident. Several months prior, he had also absconded from another hostel located in East Lancashire. His history of fleeing supervision programs underscores ongoing struggles with compliance and the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in monitoring individuals with serious offenses.

At the age of 41, Keegan was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail after admitting to failing to adhere to the requirements of the sex offender notification regime. His criminal record is extensive; in 2006, he was convicted at Preston Crown Court of six sexual offenses involving a child under sixteen and three counts of child abduction. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and was legally obliged to inform police of any change of address within three days.

The prosecuting attorney, Roger Baldwin, explained that Keegan was initially released on licence in January 2008, to reside at Highfield House probation hostel in Accrington. However, he absconded from this facility the very next day. He was subsequently arrested on January 29 and was recalled to prison. Later, in September of the same year, Keegan was again released on licence, this time to Haworth House probation hostel in Blackburn. His freedom was short-lived; he absconded from this location on September 30, prompting police to be alerted.

Approximately nine days after his disappearance from Blackburn, on October 9, Keegan voluntarily surrendered himself at a police station in Liverpool. During police interviews, he expressed dissatisfaction with the support he received at the hostel, particularly regarding assistance with potential housing options. Keegan’s barrister, Miss Kath Johnson, highlighted the difficulties her client faced, noting that many residents in the hostels had long criminal histories and severe drug problems. She explained that Keegan was often asked to procure drugs for other residents, which he found extremely stressful.

Miss Johnson further stated that Keegan reached a breaking point and decided to leave the Blackburn hostel. He traveled to Wales, where he lived rough for a brief period, before realizing the gravity of his actions and choosing to surrender to the authorities.

Keegan’s criminal history is marked by a particularly serious offense in March 2006, when he was jailed for four years after abducting a 13-year-old girl. The incident triggered a significant police manhunt, and the girl was eventually found in November of that year after she handed herself in to police. Keegan, who had no fixed address at the time, pleaded guilty to charges of abduction and sexual activity involving a child. He was also prohibited from working with children and was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Further investigations revealed that explicit emails suggesting sexual activity had taken place were found on Keegan’s computer. The teenage girl involved had been in his company for 34 days, during which they had been sleeping rough together. Her decision to come forward and report the incident was a pivotal moment in bringing Keegan’s criminal activities to light, ultimately leading to his current incarceration and ongoing supervision.